Tonight on WWE NXT: Things are getting tense as we approach the first Pros Poll next week. Tonight, seven of the eight rookies are in action, two in singles matches against each other. The only rookie not in action, Husky Harris, found a way to make an impact despite not having a match. Should be a good one!

And we are "LIVE!" from Manchester, New Hampshire. Michael Cole and Josh Mathews are our commentators and Ashley Valence is our host. This show is presented in WWEHD (TV-PG,V).

The newest member of the broadcast team  Ashley Valence  is in the ring. She tells us that the first Pros Poll will be next week and that voting will be open at the beginning of next week's show. She then welcomes out the WWE pros.

Watson and MVP get the best of Riley early and The Miz doesn't like this, scolding him. He demands a tag and gets it and goes to work on Watson. Once he softens up Watson a little bit, he brings Riley back in. Riley with a chinlock but Watson gets out with a jawbreaker and brings in MVP, who goes to work. He puts Riley down and hits the Ballin' Elbow.

He's able to get up by shoving MVP into Watson, which is a tag, and Riley gets to Miz. Watson is on fire and Riley has to break up a pin. MVP takes him out. In the ring, Miz hits a flapjack onto the top rope and then hits the Skull-Crushing Finale for the pin.

A "Daniel Bryan" chant breaks out very early as we get a botched spot. I don't even know what they were trying. O'Neil goes for a big splash but McGuillicutty gets the knees up. He follows that with the big spinning neckbreaker for the pin.

Kaval looks to chop down the tree early. That doesn't work as Cottonwood just tosses him around, holding nearly 18 inches in height and 130 pounds.

Sprngboard kick lands for Kaval but Cottonwood just flings him over the top rope to the apron. Double stomp to the back of the neck lands for Kaval. All that gets him is being tossed off at two. Kaval to the top, he comes down and lands right in a choke. Cottonwood adjusts, picks Kaval up and slams him chest-first to the mat and that's it.

Winner via pinfall: Eli Cottonwood

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Kaval is struggling backstage when LayCool comes up to him. They ask him if he is with them. He says yes. Then they have a gift for him. It's a sleeveless pink polo shirt with "Property of LayCool" on it. Then they help him turn his frown upside-down.

Now it's time to talk about Cody Rhodes beating Matt Striker last week. Striker says it's time to move on.

Rhodes grabs the mic and says they are going to things a little differently. Rhodes reminds Cannon that he said Cannon couldn't last five minutes with him and asks for the clock.

Rhodes hits a picture-perfect dropkick that sends Cannon rolling to the outside. Rhodes is all over him. He puts him up in some sort of weird rack. Cannon slides out and rolls Rhodes up for two with 2:10 remaining. Flapjack lands for Cannon and he lands a big boot and Rhodes kicks out again. Cannon, though, gets caught and lands a huge springboard kick and follows that with CrossRhodes and finishes him off with about a minute left on the clock.

Winner via pinfall: Cody Rhodes

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It's time for the rookies to make their closing arguments as we close in on the first Pros Poll. They each have 45 seconds to say their piece.

Riley says he's now getting paid to beat up nerds unlike high school. Kaval says 10 years, he tried to get into WWE and he was told he was too small. Titus O'Neil says he's had to work for everything he's ever had and in the end, he will make it a win. Michael McGuillicutty says again tonight, he made it a win. He says he has no weakness. He points out he's undefeated. Eli Cottonwood says he's the baddest and the meanest and he's willing to be patient. He says his actions will speak much louder than his words. Percy Watson says he's going to keep it shakin' and movin' Oh yeah! Lucky Cannon says he knows what he has and he appreciates it. Husky Harris is last. He says he doesn't need 45 seconds and attacks Striker as he turns his back, hitting the big senton. That'll do it.

Matt Bishop can be reached at bishop20@msu.edu. Please include your name and hometown. Click here to follow Matt on Twitter. And if you're interested in mixed martial arts, check out Matt's weekly podcast -- Lights Out Radio. Should be a good one!.